CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026: Check Age Limit, Qualifications & Physical Standards for Male and Female

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026: The Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year to recruit officers for Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA). The aspirants are required to satisfy the prescribed eligibility criteria related to age, educational qualifications, nationality, and marital status in order to apply for CDS 2026. Read on to learn the detailed eligibility requirements for CDS 2026.

CDS Eligibility Criteria 2026

The candidates who are planning to apply for the UPSC CDS 2026 must check the eligibility criteria provided in the official notification by the Commission. The candidates must verify their eligibility by reading the criteria provided for the factors such as:

• Educational Qualification

• Age Limit

• Nationality

• Marital Status

• Physical Standards

Apply Here for UPSC CDS I 2026

UPSC CDS Age Limit 2026

The candidates must check the age limit criteria before going further with the application process. The age limit is an important factor in the eligibility requirements. The age limit varies for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA. Check below:

UPSC CDS Age Limit

UPSC CDS Educational Qualification 2026

The educational qualifications vary by the academy in which the candidate is applying for. Check the CDS educational qualification details below:

Candidates who are studying in the final year/semester Degree course and have yet to pass the final year degree examination can also apply and they will be required to submit proof of passing the degree examination at the time of commencement of course.

CDS Nationality Criteria 2026

A candidate must either be:

(i) a Citizen of India, or

(ii) a subject of Nepal, or

(iii) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii) and (iii) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.

Certificate of eligibility will, however, not be necessary in the case of candidates who are Gorkha subjects of Nepal. (As per Official Notification).

UPSC CDS Marital Status

As per the official notification,

• Candidates below 25 years of age must be unmarried. Marriage is not permitted during training. Married candidates aged 25 years or above are eligible to apply but during the training period they will neither be provided married accommodation nor can they live with family out of the premises.

• Male divorcee/widower candidates cannot be treated as unmarried male for the purpose of their admission in IMA/INA/AFA/OTA, Chennai courses and accordingly they are not eligible for these courses.

CDS 2026 Physical Standards

Candidates who qualify in the written exam and SSB interview must meet physical and medical standards as prescribed by the defence services. Physical fitness, vision standards, and overall health must conform to the guidelines issued by the Commission.

Documents to Prove CDS Eligibility

Candidates must keep the following documents ready before applying for the UPSC CDS 2026.

• Degree/Provisional Marksheets

• Birth Certificate/10th Certificate (for age proof)

• Nationality Proof (Aadhaar/Passport/Voter ID)

• Marital Status Document

• Identity Proof & Photograph

• Category Certificate